Reports: Four Nigerian Churches Torched by Islamists, Scores of Worshippers Killed

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — Witnesses say suspected Islamic extremists sprayed gunfire at worshippers and torched four churches in a village just miles from the town where more than 200 schoolgirls were kidnapped.

They say scores of people have been killed Sunday in Kwada village and survivors are hiding in the bush.

Police say they are unable to confirm the attack because bad communications have kept them from reaching the nearest security post at Chibok.

FILE - In this file photo taken on Monday, April, 21. 2014, security walk past a burnt out government secondary school in Chibok, where gunmen abducted more than 200 students, Chibok, Nigeria. Boko Haram militants dressed as soldiers slaughtered at least 200 civilians in three villages in northeastern Nigeria and the military failed to intervene even though it was warned that an attack was imminent, witnesses said on Thursday, June 5, 2014. (AP Photo/ Haruna Umar,File)

That is the site in northeast Borno state of the mass abduction in April. Officials say 219 girls remain captive.

Boko Haram extremists are demanding the release of detained fighters in return for the girls.

The extremists are blamed for last week's bombing of a shopping mall in Abuja, the capital in central Nigeria, that killed 24 people.

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